The 76th Annual UGA January High School Band Festival: Thursday, January 15 - Saturday, January 17, 2026 2026 JanFest Clinicians Dr. Rodney Dorsey – Florida State University Dr. Shelby Chipman – Florida A&M Prof. Dana Sedatole – Michigan State University Dr. Erin Bodnar – University of North Florida Dr. Dominic Talanca – University of Central Arkansas Dr. Alison Farley – University of Georgia Ms. Monica Fogg – DeKalb County Schools Mr. Jeremy Lumpkin – Hillgrove High School Mr. Chris Shumick – Milton High School 2026 JanFest Feature Ensembles Carter G. Woodson High School Wind EnsembleMr. Aaron Morgan & Ms. Helen Landers, conductors Lambert High School Wind EnsembleMr. Kevin Morrison & Dr. Jonathan Buchholz, conductors Important Registration Dates Online Registration Begins: Nov. 3 Nomination & Video Submission Deadline: Dec. 1 Acceptances Published: Dec. 15* Cancellation Deadline: Jan. 7 * approximate date Registration information will be emailed on Nov. 3 Contact us at bandfestivals@uga.edu if you have questions or need to be added to the JanFest mailing list. Yearly JanFest Information: JanFest information will be mailed to band directors the first week of November each year. If you are a new director to a school, email us at bandfestivals@uga.edu before October 1 to be included in the mailout. "JanFest” (pioneering band invitational established in 1950) is a three-day event for high school band musicians. Students are nominated for participation by their director by way of this website early in the academic year after receiving the JanFest announcement. UGA Bands staff selects students to participate based on the order of the director’s submission, the instrumentation need of the festival bands, and the reported musical achievements of each student. Typical festival attendance is approximately 1000 students from 130 schools.Directors and other adult chaperones accompany students to Athens for the event. Directors are responsible for housing and food arrangements for their students. The festival announcement includes a list of hotel properties in close proximity to the festival site.Students are placed in festival bands on the basis of a video audition. These bands rehearse several times before a final performance on the final afternoon of the event. Attendees also enjoy several featured performances by guest high school bands and UGA student ensembles, including the UGA Hodgson Wind Ensemble.We’re looking forward to seeing you next winter at JanFest! For more information regarding JanFest or to update contact information, email Director of Festivals, Dr. Mia Athanas at bandfestivals@uga.edu.
